2nd LAR Marine arrested for threats

Published: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 02:18 PM.

A Camp Lejeune Marine has been taken into custody after he allegedly threatened the life of another Marine.

Lance Cpl. Kenneth Austin, 23, of Mercer, Pa., is accused of threatening the other Marine at about 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, according to his wife.

“We got into a fight on the phone,” his wife, Shannon Austin, said. “He thinks there’s something going on between me and another Marine. I left last Monday (to New Hampshire) to get away and get some space. He took it the wrong way and threatened another Marine’s life because of it.”

Shannon Austin said they were trying to work things out but that there was a military protective order against the two of them having contact.

“Something set him off and he blew up,” she said.

Shannon Austin would not specify what the military protective order was issued for or when it was issued.

Kenneth Austin, who belongs to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in July 2012 after his third deployment to Afghanistan and has been actively involved in treatment for the last month, according to his wife.

A Camp Lejeune Marine has been taken into custody after he allegedly threatened the life of another Marine.

Lance Cpl. Kenneth Austin, 23, of Mercer, Pa., is accused of threatening the other Marine at about 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, according to his wife.

“We got into a fight on the phone,” his wife, Shannon Austin, said. “He thinks there’s something going on between me and another Marine. I left last Monday (to New Hampshire) to get away and get some space. He took it the wrong way and threatened another Marine’s life because of it.”

Shannon Austin said they were trying to work things out but that there was a military protective order against the two of them having contact.

“Something set him off and he blew up,” she said.

Shannon Austin would not specify what the military protective order was issued for or when it was issued.

Kenneth Austin, who belongs to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in July 2012 after his third deployment to Afghanistan and has been actively involved in treatment for the last month, according to his wife.

“Initially I called his command to tell them about the threats and then the Officer Of The Day called the military police,” she said. “After that they contacted the local authorities.”

Deputies arrested Kenneth Austin at about 7:30 a.m. and he has been brought back to his command.

“His first sergeant called me and told me he is back on base,” she said. “… They promised me he is going to get help, and in my opinion he needs it.”